August 15, 2017

Walk By Faith

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”  2 Cor. 5:7

This morning I prayed.  You might not think that is anything especially terrific; except when I prayed, one of my prayers was 400 years into the future.  I have been praying for quite some time now for my as yet unborn grandchildren, great-grandchildren and so on.  With an average life expectancy of 80 years covering 5 generations, by my calculation that is 400 years forward – should the Lord tarry His return.

It is obvious that I pray this prayer by faith, not by sight.  My daughter will be married this summer.  She and her future husband hope to be parents one day and so, I pray this prayer.  It is one of the many marvelous and yet mysterious things about prayer:  it is speaking from this realm into an unseen realm.  It is communicating from time into timelessness.  Earth connects with heaven and, I hope, heaven comes down to kiss earth with a perfect and holy and just and true answer. 

The point is this: I do not have to see it, or feel it, to believe it.  It is a prayer with confidence in an Almighty God who is an Everlasting Father.  This prayer strengthens me, encourages, and fills me with hope.  I see – absolutely nothing.  But by faith I am confident this prayer reaches the inclined ear of my Father, whose heart beats for me, my daughter, and those five generations.  Lord may Your will be manifested in their lives.

August 14, 2017

I Will Gather Still

“I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered.”  Isaiah 56:8

This is what the Lord said to the prophet Isaiah – “I will gather still to them besides those already gathered.”  These great chapters in Isaiah 52 through 55 all foretell of the Suffering Servant, Jesus.  He would be the One who would come to rescue Israel, restore, Israel, and renew the covenant promises of old.  Indeed when we read these chapters, we find such truths.  When we arrive at chapter 56 of Isaiah, we discover something else:  God’s great rescue operation would not be limited to Israel.  Foreigners, or what we might call Gentiles, who called upon the name of the Lord, would also be brought into this great family and house of blessing.  What hope!

These words echo in our hearts and spirits today, as we who follow Jesus await His return and pray, ‘Come Lord Jesus.’  God is gathering still.  The great rescue operation predicted in the days of Isaiah had begun when a carpenter’s son ministered good news and demonstrated the good news in His life, death, and resurrection.  That same rescue plan is still in effect.  God is gathering still others to join the royal family He has already gathered – Jew and Gentile formed into the one new man in Christ. 

May it be the prayer of our hearts this day, Lord gather still while there is still time to gather. 

August 13, 2017

Prayer for the Church

“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people,  I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.  I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,  and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,  above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.  And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,  which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” Eph. 1:15-23

This is  Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians.  Let’s explore this precious prayer to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of what Paul is asking God to provide for the church.  It is noteworthy that Paul’s prayer can be our prayer for the church.

• Paul prays for the church to receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him;
• Paul prays for the eyes of the church’s understanding to be enlightened – in order that the church might know:
• The hope of His calling;

o   The riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints;

o   The exceeding greatness of His power toward those who believe;

§  Which God worked in Christ when He raised Him and seated Him in the heavenly places;

§  Above all power, principality, might, and dominion, and name;

§  Putting all things under His feet; and,

§  Giving Him to be the Head over all things to the church;

§  Which is His body – the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

This is a powerful way to pray for the church!  It is important to note that Paul, who was Jewish, wrote this prayer in order that the people comprising the church at Ephesus might have “knowledge of Him.”  Paul was not writing about head-knowledge.  Paul was praying for heart-knowledge – that the very eyes of hearts would be opened to see things in new and different ways; the ways that God sees.  Such heart-knowledge, or experience, comes through the spirit of wisdom and revelation. 

When we experience healing, we know Jesus as Healer!  When we experience restoration, we know Him as Restorer.  It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that revelation and wisdom comes.  When we have peace in our lives, we know Him as Jehovah-Shalom.  Each experience draws us closer to the Lord. 

August 12, 2017

The Encampment

“The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting some distance from it, each man under his standard with the banners of his family.”  Num. 2:1-2

Num. 2:1-34 detailed the encampment.  This chapter is fascinating and filled with vital information, God patterns, and God principles.  Judah was on the east side, to the right.  It was seen as a position of honor.  Issachar and Zebulun joined this tribe.  Their mother was Leah.  Moses, Aaron and their sons were the Levites specifically chosen to reside on that side.  This was also recognized as the front line in battle – in total, the 3 tribes had 186,400 soldiers.  Num. 2:9 states they would be the first to break camp.  The standard of Judah was the lion.

To the south was Reuben, followed by Simeon and Gad.  Their mothers were Leah and Zilpah, her handmaiden.  The banner of Reuben was a man.  The Kohathites were the Levites chosen to occupy the south side.  The total number was 151,450 of warriors.  They would be the second to break camp.

On the west was Ephraim, whose banner was a bull.  Manasseh and Benjamin joined him.  Rachel gave birth to Benjamin, and to Joseph (who then had Ephraim and Manasseh).  This west side totaled 108,100.  The Gershonites were the Levites occupying this side.  Ephraim would be the third to break camp.

To the north side was Dan and his standard was an eagle.  Asher and Napthali joined him.  Their mothers were Bilah an Zilpah.  The total fighting force was 157,600.  The Mahlites and Mushites were the Levites chosen to live on the north side.  Dan would be the last to break camp.

When re-organized based on troop size, you will find the encampment takes the shape of a cross.  Also noteworthy is Num. 2:17, “And the tabernacle of meeting shall move out with the camp of the Levites in the middle of the camps; as they camp, so they shall move out everyone in his place, by their standards.”  The Levites would always be in the middle of the encampment.  

August 11, 2017

Bearing Burdens

“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”  Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.  For each one shall bear his own load.”  Gal. 6:1-5

We find in this passage very specific guidance on how to deal with others and ourselves as it relates to sin.  Paul is stating when we see someone else struggling with sin, the first thing we need to do is “consider ourselves.”  Are we in a place of spiritual health and maturity to be able to lovingly and gently restore our brother or sister?  Are we willing to bear our brother or sister’s burdens?  Do we pray for them?  Do we bless them?  Do we walk with them, even if it is in silence?  Paul is clear that we must examine ourselves before determining if we are called to be the one to restore the brother or sister caught up in sin.  The reason is simple:  if we are not in the proper spiritual place, we may well be tempted to sin.  

We are called to bear one another’s burdens, for this is love.  In so doing, we fulfill the law of Christ: to love one another as Christ loves us.  Rom. 15:1 states: “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak and not to please ourselves.”   Jesus came as our role model to show agape – the unconditional love that expects nothing in return, is for the person’s best interests, and is what the person needs, not wants. 

We should consider ourselves soberly and honestly.  Verse 3 reminds us to think of ourselves humbly, lest we get puffed up.  Rom. 12:3 declares: “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”  In chapter five we presented the precept of submission as a key to the Christian journey.  In this chapter we present the precept of humility.  It is a sign of humbleness to submit to the authority and Lordship of Jesus.  Jesus said in Matthew 23:12, “And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”   Perhaps the ultimate expression of humility is found in Psalm 113:5-6, “Who is like the LORD our God, who dwells on high, who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth?” 

August 10, 2017

Our Overwhelming God

“From the ends of the earth I call to You, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  For You have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.”  Ps. 61:2-3

Father, I pray that You would overwhelm that which overwhelms us.  May Your perfect love and authority be displayed so that those things that appear to be controlling us, hindering us, and besetting us are totally and completely overwhelmed by You.

May You come with the gentle power that disrupts, disturbs, and destroys those obstacles that are in our way.  Let the force of Your unfailing love and relentless compassion be like the waves coming to wash over us and separate us from those obstacles.  May each and every hindrance go out with receding tide.

Lord, lead us to the Rock that is Jesus the King.  Bring us to the safe place where we can re-gain our footing and not stumble.  Thank You that when we are led to Jesus, we are led to a place higher than ourselves, greater than ourselves; a place that filled with awe and splendor and beauty – all because You are there.

You have been our refuge so many times before; the cleft in the Rock where we can hide away.  You have been our strong tower and sanctuary from the adversary.  We come to You once again, seeking Your presence, Your power, and Your protection – and we find it in You.

Hear our cry O God and listen to our prayer.

The God of Reconciliation

"God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them."  2 Cor.5:19

There we stood in the school cafeteria on a weekday morning.  Not just any weekday; this happened to be the National Day of Prayer.  A group of us gathered in this public high school in Chicago and prayed.  We prayed for the children in that school, in the city.  We prayed for their families.  We prayed for the staff.  We prayed for the violence to end.  We prayed for shattered families to be reconciled.

It has been an interesting year, filled with the twists and turns of the transition our ministry has sensed would happen.  We have found ourselves in public high schools, county jails, halfway houses, death row units, and more.  We have become immersed in the human trafficking issue, seeing afresh the faces of the incarcerated. This year we have also plowed up the soil of re-entry, developing ways to teach Biblical re-entry to women behind the walls.  We have seen miracles this year as well - the amazing power of forgiveness shown by an offender who forgave her stepfather after 40 years of carrying unforgiveness.  That very next week, her step dad drove over 1500 miles to visit her in prison - and to ask her forgiveness.  She told him she had forgiven him - a few days earlier.  This woman's stepfather writes her every week now.  This broken family has been reconciled.

We have had correctional officers ask us when we would do a Prayer Seminar for them.  There are letters and notes and comments giving testimony to the powerful healing and restorative work of God in the lives of women and in their families.  We keep stumbling into God in prison.  He is reconciling the world to Himself in Christ.  We watch Him work, try to do our part and not get in His way.  We give Him honor and glory and praise that is due to Him and Him alone.  Have Your way, Lord.